Apparatus and method for providing transaction history information, account history information, and/or charge-back information

ABSTRACT

A computer-implemented method, including receiving information regarding a transaction involving an individual and involving an account, wherein the information regarding the transaction is received by a receiver prior to a processing, a completion, a consummation, or a cancellation, of the transaction, processing the information regarding the transaction with a processing device, generating a report or a message in response to the processing of the information regarding the transaction, wherein the report or the message contains information regarding a charge-back regarding a previous transaction involving the individual, and transmitting the report or the message to a communication device associated with a merchant, vendor, or provider, of a good, product, or service.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/283,838, filed Sep. 16, 2008, and entitled“APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING TRANSACTION HISTORY INFORMATION,ACCOUNT HISTORY INFORMATION, AND/OR CHARGE-BACK INFORMATION”, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,661,585, which application is a continuation application ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/045,080, filed Jan. 15, 2002, andentitled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING TRANSACTION HISTORYINFORMATION, ACCOUNT HISTORY INFORMATION, AND/OR CHARGE-BACKINFORMATION”, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,529,698, the subject matter of whichapplications is hereby incorporated by reference herein. U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/045,080, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,529,698, claims thebenefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application. Ser. No.60/262,167, filed Jan. 16, 2001, and entitled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FORPROVIDING TRANSACTION HISTORY INFORMATION, ACCOUNT HISTORY INFORMATION,AND/OR CHARGE-BACK INFORMATION”, the subject matter of which is herebyincorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for providingtransaction history information, account history information, and/orcharge-back information and, in particular, to an apparatus and methodfor providing transaction history information, account historyinformation and/or charge-back information which can be utilized by amerchant or vendor in processing a transaction in order to preventand/or in order to reduce the incidence of any one or more of creditcard fraud, credit account fraud, charge card fraud, charge accountfraud, debit card fraud, debit account fraud, and/or cyber-shoplifting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Merchants, vendors, or providers, of goods, products, or services, lossmillions of dollars each year as the result of non-payment of theirreceivables. Non-payment of receivables can result from credit cardfraud, charge card fraud, debit card fraud, cyber-shoplifting,charge-backs, bank fraud, check fraud, the stopping of issued checks,checks returned for insufficient funds, and other causes or activities.

Merchants, vendors, or providers, of goods, services, or products, havelong experienced credit card fraud, charge card fraud, debit card fraud,cyber-shoplifting (such as when individuals deny making an on-line ornon-face-to-face transaction involving credit cards, charge cards, debitcards, or any other advancement of credit), charge-backs (which occurwhen a credit, charge, or debt, services issuing entity or bank forcesthe merchant, vendor, or provider, to pay back funds paid thereto alongwith possibly imposing charge-back fees), bank fraud, check fraud, thestopping of issued checks, checks returned for insufficient funds, andother activities.

With the tremendous increase in telephone-based transactions as well ason-line transactions, such as those occurring on, or over, the Internetand/or the World Wide Web, risks of non-payment have become evengreater. These non-payment risks have resulted from the non-face-to-facenature of telephone or on-line transactions which involve credit cards,charge cards, debit cards, or their respective accounts, which do notallow merchants, vendors, or providers, the opportunity to verify and/orotherwise ensure that they are entering into transactions with the trueaccount holder or account owner.

As a result, many merchants, vendors, or providers, are having theircharges or receivables challenged, disputed, and/or denied, by dishonestindividuals. This has resulted in charge-backs to the merchants,vendors, or providers, which entail having a bank or issuer associatedwith the account holder's or the account owner's account impose a returnof funds. Other fees may also be imposed on the respective merchants,vendors, or providers.

As a result, the respective merchants, vendors, or providers, can losein a number of ways. They lose the funds received, they may not have thegoods, products, or services, returned, they may be charged charge-backfees, and/or they can experience opportunity costs (i.e. expendedemployee time and/or company resources) in dealing with the disputedcharges.

Activities by dishonest individuals, in ordering a good, product, orservice, only to later deny making the order or deny entering into thetransaction, so as to avoid payment, while not returning the respectivegoods, products, or services, has come to be known as“cyber-shoplifting” and can cost merchants, vendors, or providers,millions of dollars annually. Losses which result from these and otherforms of credit card fraud, charge card fraud, debit card fraud, bankfraud, check fraud, the stopping of issued checks, checks returned forinsufficient funds, and other activities result in even greater lossesto merchants, vendors, or providers.

Losses to merchants, vendors, providers, any of their banks, any oftheir respective vendors or providers, and/or any of their insurers, ifapplicable, in the long run, can ultimately get passed on to, and can beshared by, all of us.

No system or method exists which can provide the means for allowingmerchants, vendors, or providers, to protect themselves from losses orrisks of losses which can result from credit card fraud, charge cardfraud, debit card fraud, cyber-shoplifting, charge-backs, bank fraud,check fraud, the stopping of issued checks, checks returned forinsufficient funds, and other activities.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for providingtransaction history information, account history information, and/orcharge-back information, which overcomes the shortfalls of the priorart.

The present invention provides and apparatus and method for providingtransaction history information, account history information, and/orcharge-back information which can be utilized by a merchant, vendor, orother entity, in processing, and/or in assessing the processing of, atransaction in order to prevent and/or in order to reduce the incidenceof any one or more of credit card fraud, credit account fraud, chargecard fraud, charge account fraud, debit card fraud, debit account fraud,check fraud, checking account fraud, and/or cyber-shoplifting.

The present invention can be utilized to in order to process informationregarding fraudulent use of any one or more of credit cards, creditaccounts, charge cards, charge accounts, debit cards, debit accounts,electronic money accounts, checks, or checking accounts. The presentinvention can also be utilized to in order to process informationregarding checks returned due to insufficient funds, checks for whichstop payment orders have been made, disputes and/or denial of paymentassertions made in conjunction with any one or more of credit cards,credit accounts, charge cards, charge accounts, debit cards, debitaccounts, electronic money accounts, checks, or checking accounts.

The present invention can also process information regarding pastdenials of liability or responsibility regarding a transaction, pastcharge-back activity involving any one or more of a credit card, acredit account, a charge card, a charge account, a debit card, a debitaccount, or a checking account.

The information obtained from the present invention can be utilized by amerchant, a vendor, and/or any other entity, in order to process atransaction, and/or in order to assess whether or not it should fulfillan order relating to a transaction.

The present invention can be utilized in order to perform riskmanagement in transactions involving payment by any or more of creditcards, credit accounts, charge cards, charge accounts, debit cards,debit accounts, electronic money accounts, checks, or checking accounts.The present invention can also be utilized in face-to-face transactions,non-face-to-face transactions, telephone transactions, on-linetransactions, mail order transactions, and/or in any other non-cashtransactions.

The present invention can be utilized in order to provide information atany time during, prior to, and/or subsequent to, a transaction. Thepresent invention can also be utilized by a merchant, vendor, or otherentity, in order to assess an individual's or an entity's pasttransaction history, account history, or charge-back history, in orderto determine if the individual or entity has had a history of, or couldbe a risk in, denying being party to a transaction involving a creditcard, a credit account, a charge card, a charge account, a debit card, adebit account, or a checking account, disputing a transaction ainvolving credit card, a credit account, a charge card, a chargeaccount, a debit card, a debit account, passing or attempting to pass abad check, stopping payment of an issued check, and/or in other waysattempting to defraud or otherwise obtain goods, products, or services,without paying for same, shopping same, and/or cyber-shoplifting same.

The present invention can be utilized in order to allow a merchant,vendor, or provider, of goods, products, and/or services, to processinformation regarding a counterpart or counterparty to a transaction inorder to determine if the counterpart or counterparty could be a risk,could be a credit risk, or might not fulfill payment obligationsrelating to a transaction.

The present invention can provide transaction history information,account history information, and/or charge-back information, any one ormore of during a transaction, during a transaction authorizationprocess, subsequent to a transaction, subsequent to a transactionauthorization process, prior to an order fulfillment process, and/orduring an order fulfillment process.

The present invention can also process information received, concerningany of the herein-described individuals or entities, from any one ofmore of credit card issuers, credit account administrators, charge cardissuers, charge account administrators, debit card issuers, debitaccount administrators, electronic money account administrators,checking account administrators, and/or any banks and/or financialinstitutions and/or other entities which facilitate, manage, operate,and/or administer, any of the herein-described accounts.

The present invention can process information received, concerning anyindividuals or entities, from any merchants, vendors, and/or providersof goods, products, and/or services, credit agencies, and/or any otherindividual, individuals, entity, and/or entities.

The apparatus includes a central processing computer which can performany of the herein-described processing routines and/or processingoperations, as well as any of the communication operations describedherein as being provided by the present invention.

The central processing computer can service any number of merchants,vendors, and/or providers, and/or any of the accounts with any of theindividuals, account holders, and/or account owners, associated with anyof the herein-described accounts.

The apparatus can also include one or more merchant communicationdevices or computers which can be associated with any of theherein-described merchants, vendors, and/or providers, who or whichutilize the present invention.

The apparatus can also include one or more information providercommunication devices or computers. The information provider computercan be associated with a credit card issuer, a credit accountadministrator, a charge card issuer, a charge account administrator, adebit card issuer, a debit account administrator, an electronic moneyaccount administrator, a checking account administrator, a bank, afinancial institution, any entity which facilitates, manages, operates,and/or administers, any of the herein-described accounts, a merchant, avendor, a provider, a credit rating agency or service, and/or any otherentity which can provide information regarding any transaction historyinformation, account history information, and/or charge-backinformation, and/or any information related thereto, for, or regarding,any of the individuals or entities described herein as engaging intransactions with any of the herein-described merchants, vendors, and/orproviders.

Any number of central processing computers, merchant computers, and/orinformation provider computers, can be utilized in conjunction with thepresent invention.

The central processing computers, the merchant computers, and/or theinformation provider computers, can communicate with, transmitinformation to, and/or receive information from, any other centralprocessing computers, merchant computers, and/or the informationprovider computers, over any suitable communication network or system,including, but not limited to a telephone network, a telecommunicationnetwork, a digital communication network, a satellite communicationnetwork, a wireless communication network, a personal communicationservices network, a broadband communication network, a bluetoothcommunication network, the Internet, the World Wide Web, and/or anyother communication network and/or system.

The present invention can be utilized on, over, and/or in conjunctionwith, any suitable communication network or system, including, but notlimited to a telephone network, a telecommunication network, a digitalcommunication network, a satellite communication network, a wirelesscommunication network, a personal communication services network, abroadband communication network, a bluetooth communication network, theInternet, the World Wide Web, and/or any other communication networkand/or system.

The present invention can be utilized in order to provide information toa merchant, vendor, or provider, regarding charge-backs, stopping ofpayments, and/or failures to make payments, which have occurred in anaccount of an individual or entity with whom the respective merchant,vendor, or provider, is currently engaging in a transaction. The presentinvention can provide detailed information to the merchant regarding thetransaction and subsequent activities.

The present invention can also be utilized in order to determine whetheran individual paying for a transaction by check has previously stoppedpayment of a check in a previous transaction. The present invention canalso provide information regarding the transaction and subsequentactivities. The present invention can also be utilized in order todetermine whether an individual paying for a transaction with a checkhas previously had a check returned due to insufficient funds and/or“bounced” a check.

The present invention can also be utilized in order to providetransaction history information, account history information, and/orcharge-back information, including the above-described charge-back,check stopping of payment, or check bouncing, information, during atransaction authorization process, prior to an transaction authorizationprocess, subsequent to transaction authorization process, and/or priorto a goods, products, and/or services, shipment and/or delivery.

The present invention can be utilized in order to provide information toa merchant, vendor, or provider, regarding a charge-back(s), a stoppingof payment(s), and/or a non-payment(s) due to insufficient funds, whichhave occurred on, in conjunction with, and/or relating to, any of theherein-described accounts.

The merchant can then utilize the report information in order todetermine either not to proceed with the transaction, to cancel thetransaction or order, to request additional information, to requestinformation to confirm and/or verify the transaction and the accountholder's or the account owner's authority to enter into the transaction,to request additional assurances from the account holder or accountowner, to secure the account holder's or the account owner's agreementnot to dispute a charge or payment, to secure the account holder's orthe account owner's agreement not to stop payment for a charge orpayment, to secure the account holder's or the account owner's guaranteethat sufficient funds exist to cover a payment, to secure the accountholder's or the account owner's alternate agreement to guarantee paymentfor a charge, to secure a release of liability or claim from the accountholder or account owner regarding the transaction, and/or the merchantcan take any other action in order to protect its interests.

The present invention can be utilized in order to provide respectivecharge-back information, stopping of payment information, and/ornon-payment due to insufficient funds information, to a merchant,vendor, or provider, at any time prior to the merchant's, the vendor's,or the provider's, delivery, transfer, or shipment, of the respectivegoods, products, and/or services, to an individual, entity, accountholder, or account owner.

The present invention can also be utilized in conjunction with, and/oralong with, a transaction authorization process.

Intelligent agents, software agents, mobile agents, and/or relatedtechnologies, can also be utilized in conjunction with the presentinvention. The respective intelligent agent(s), software agent(s),mobile agent(s), can be programmed and/or designed to act on behalf ofany of the respective merchants, vendors, or providers, described hereinas utilizing the present invention, so as to act on behalf of therespective merchants, vendors, or providers, as well as to perform anyof processing functions and/or other functions described herein.

The present invention can also be programmed to be self-activatingand/or activated automatically.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing transaction history information,account history information, and/or charge-back information.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatusand method for providing transaction history information, accounthistory information, and/or charge-back information, which can beutilized by a merchant, vendor, or other entity, in processing, and/orin assessing the processing of, a transaction.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing transaction history information,account history information, and/or charge-back information, which canbe utilized in order to prevent and/or in order to reduce the incidenceof any one or more of credit card fraud, credit account fraud, chargecard fraud, charge account fraud, debit card fraud, debit account fraud,check fraud, checking account fraud, or cyber-shoplifting.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing transaction history information,account history information, and/or charge-back information, which canbe utilized in order to process information regarding fraudulent use ofany one or more of credit cards, credit accounts, charge cards, chargeaccounts, debit cards, debit accounts, electronic money accounts,automated teller machines, checks, or checking accounts.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatusand method for providing transaction history information, accounthistory information, and/or charge-back information, which can beutilized in order to process information regarding checks returned dueto insufficient funds and checks for which stop payment orders have beenmade.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing transaction history information,account history information, and/or charge-back information which can beutilized to process information regarding disputes and/or denial ofpayment assertions made in conjunction with any one or more of creditcards, credit accounts, charge cards, charge accounts, debit cards,debit accounts, electronic money accounts, checks, or checking accounts.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing transaction history information,account history information, and/or charge-back information, which canbe utilized in order to process information regarding past denials ofliability or responsibility regarding a transaction.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatusand method for providing transaction history information, accounthistory information, and/or charge-back information, which can beutilized in order to perform risk management assessments regarding atransaction.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing transaction history information,account history information, and/or charge-back information, which canbe utilized in face-to-face transactions, non-face-to-face transactions,telephone transactions, on-line transactions, mail order transactions,or in any other transactions.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing transaction history information,account history information, and/or charge-back information, which canprovide information at any time during, prior to, and/or subsequent to,a transaction.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatusand method for providing transaction history information, accounthistory information, and/or charge-back information, which can beutilized to allow a merchant, vendor, or provider, of goods, products,and/or services, to process information regarding a counterpart orcounterparty to a transaction in order to determine if the counterpartor counterparty could be a risk, could be a credit risk, or might notfulfill payment obligations relating to a transaction.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing transaction history information,account history information, and/or charge-back information, which canbe utilized during a transaction, during a transaction authorizationprocess, subsequent to a transaction, subsequent to a transactionauthorization process, prior to an order fulfillment process, or duringan order fulfillment process.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing transaction history information,account history information, and/or charge-back information, which canbe utilized on, over, or on conjunction with, any communication networkor system.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatusand method for providing transaction history information, accounthistory information, and/or charge-back information, which can beutilized on, over, or in conjunction with, any one or more of atelephone network, a telecommunication network, a digital communicationnetwork, a satellite communication network, a wireless communicationnetwork, a personal communication services network, a broadbandcommunication network, or a bluetooth communication network.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing transaction history information,account history information, and/or charge-back information, which canbe utilized on, over, or in conjunction with the Internet and/or theWorld Wide Web.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing transaction history information,account history information, and/or charge-back information, which canbe utilized on, over, or in conjunction with a wireless communicationnetwork.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatusand method for providing transaction history information, accounthistory information, and/or charge-back information, which can beutilized in order to provide information to a merchant, vendor, orprovider, regarding charge-backs, stopping of payments, and/or failuresto make payments, which have occurred in an account of an individual orentity.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing transaction history information,account history information, and/or charge-back information, which canprovide detailed information to a merchant regarding an accounttransaction or subsequent activities.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing transaction history information,account history information, and/or charge-back information, which canbe utilized in order to provide transaction history information, accounthistory information, and/or charge-back information, during atransaction authorization process, prior to an transaction authorizationprocess, subsequent to transaction authorization process, or prior to agoods, products, and/or services, shipment or delivery.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatusand method for providing transaction history information, accounthistory information, and/or charge-back information, which can utilizeintelligent agents, software agents, or mobile agents.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing transaction history information,account history information, and/or charge-back information, which canbe programmed to be self-activating or activated automatically.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentto those skilled in the art upon a review of the Description of thePreferred Embodiments taken in conjunction with the Drawings whichfollow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates the apparatus of the present invention, in blockdiagram form;

FIG. 2 illustrates the central processing computer of FIG. 1, in blockdiagram form;

FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment method for utilizing theapparatus of FIG. 1, in flow diagram form;

FIG. 4 illustrates another preferred embodiment method for utilizing theapparatus of FIG. 1, in flow diagram form; and

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate another preferred embodiment method forutilizing the apparatus of FIG. 1, in flow diagram form.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for providingtransaction history information, account history information, and/orcharge-back information and, in particular, to an apparatus and methodfor providing transaction history information, account historyinformation, and/or charge-back information which can be utilized by amerchant, vendor, or other entity, in processing, and/or in assessingthe processing of, a transaction in order to prevent and/or in order toreduce the incidence of any one or more of credit card fraud, creditaccount fraud, charge card fraud, charge account fraud, debit cardfraud, debit account fraud, check fraud, checking account fraud, and/orcyber-shoplifting.

The apparatus and method of the present invention can be utilized to inorder to process information regarding fraudulent use of any one or moreof credit cards, credit accounts, charge cards, charge accounts, debitcards, debit accounts, electronic money accounts, checks, or checkingaccounts. The apparatus and method of the present invention can also beutilized to in order to process information regarding checks returneddue to insufficient funds, checks for which stop payment orders havebeen made, disputes and/or denial of payment assertions made inconjunction with any one or more of credit cards, credit accounts,charge cards, charge accounts, debit cards, debit accounts, electronicmoney accounts, checks, or checking accounts.

The apparatus and method of the present invention can also processinformation regarding past denials of liability or responsibilityregarding a transaction, past charge-back activity involving any one ormore of a credit card, a credit account, a charge card, a chargeaccount, a debit card, a debit account, or a checking account.

The information obtained from the apparatus and method of the presentinvention can also be utilized by a merchant, a vendor, and/or any otherentity, in order to process a transaction, and/or in order to assesswhether or not it should fulfill an order relating to a transaction. Forexample, a merchant can obtain information regarding a purchaser'shistory of utilizing a credit card in an on-line transaction, receivingthe goods which were to the subject of a transaction and, thereafter,disputing the corresponding credit card charge and/or denying havingever made the transaction. In this manner, the merchant can utilize theinformation in order to assess whether or not to fulfill a transactionand/or to cancel the transaction and possibly avoid a charge-back beingimposed upon it and the losses relating thereto which can include theloss of the goods, the payment for the goods, a “charge-back” fee,and/or any other charges or costs which can be associated with thecharge-back.

The apparatus and method of the present invention can also be utilizedin order to perform risk management in transactions involving payment byany or more of credit cards, credit accounts, charge cards, chargeaccounts, debit cards, debit accounts, electronic money accounts,checks, or checking accounts. The apparatus and method of the presentinvention can also be utilized in face-to-face transactions,non-face-to-face transactions, telephone transactions, on-linetransactions, mail order transactions, and/or in any other non-cashtransactions.

The apparatus and method of the present invention can be utilized inorder to provide information at any time during, prior to, and/orsubsequent to, a transaction. The apparatus and method of the presentinvention can be utilized by a merchant, vendor, or other entity, inorder to assess an individual's or an entity's past transaction history,account history, or charge-back history, in order to determine if theindividual or entity has had a history of, or could be a risk in,denying being party to a transaction involving a credit card, a creditaccount, a charge card, a charge account, a debit card, a debit account,or a checking account, disputing a transaction a involving credit card,a credit account, a charge card, a charge account, a debit card, a debitaccount, passing or attempting to pass a bad check, stopping payment ofan issued check, and/or in other ways attempting to defraud or otherwiseobtain goods, products, or services, without paying for same, shoppingsame, and/or cyber-shoplifting same.

The apparatus and method of the present invention can be utilized inorder to allow a merchant, vendor, or provider, of goods, products,and/or services, to process information regarding a counterpart orcounterparty to a transaction in order to determine if the counterpartor counterparty could be a risk, could be a credit risk, or might notfulfill payment obligations relating to a transaction.

For example, a merchant, by obtaining information regarding anindividual's credit card or charge card purchasing history can utilizethe apparatus and method of the present invention in order to ascertainthat an individual has, in the past, repudiated and/or denied making anon-line credit card purchase or charge card purchase, while all thewhile, the individual or a family member had, in fact, made the purchaseand received a good or product, and causing a charge-back to be imposedon the merchant along with the non-return of the respective good orproduct, as well as causing the merchant to absorb any fees or costsassociated with the charge-back, the transaction and/or the orderfulfillment process. In a similar manner, a merchant can ascertain thatan individual has, in the past, paid for goods, products, or services,with a check which is subsequently refused payment due to insufficientfunds and/or for a check which the individual has subsequently issued astop payment order.

In these instances, the apparatus and method of the present invention,by providing the merchant with information regarding transaction historyinformation, account history information, and/or charge-backinformation, can allow the merchant to take any necessary precautionsand/or steps in order to minimize its risk of loss in transactions withindividuals.

As defined herein, the terms user, “merchant”, “vendor”, “provider”, orthe plural of same, refer to any merchant, merchants, vendor, vendors,provider, and/or providers, of any goods, products, or services, who orwhich utilize the apparatus and method of the present invention in orderto obtain and/or utilize the information provided thereby.

As defined herein, the term “account”, “credit card account”, “chargecard account”, “debit card account”, “electronic money account”, or“checking account”, or the plural of same, refer to any of therespective accounts or accounts which can be utilized by an individualand/or entity in order to engage in a transaction with any of theherein-defined merchants, vendors, and/or providers.

As defined herein, the terms “operator” or “administrator”, or theplural of same, refer to any operators or administrators who or whichoperate and/or administer the operation of the apparatus of the presentinvention and/or any of the central processing computer utilized inconjunction with same.

The apparatus and method of the present invention can providetransaction history information, account history information, and/orcharge-back information, any one or more of during a transaction, duringa transaction authorization process, subsequent to a transaction,subsequent to a transaction authorization process, prior to an orderfulfillment process, and/or during an order fulfillment process.

The apparatus and method of the present invention can also processinformation received, concerning any of the herein-described individualsor entities, from any one of more of credit card issuers, credit accountadministrators, charge card issuers, charge account administrators,debit card issuers, debit account administrators, electronic moneyaccount administrators, checking account administrators, and/or anybanks and/or financial institutions and/or other entities whichfacilitate, manage, operate, and/or administer, any of theherein-described accounts.

The apparatus and method of the present invention can processinformation received, concerning any of the herein-described individualsor entities, from any merchants, vendors, and/or providers of goods,products, and/or services, credit agencies, and/or any other individual,individuals, entity, and/or entities.

Applicant hereby incorporates by reference herein the subject matter andteachings of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/262,167which teaches and discloses an apparatus and method for providingtransaction history information, account history information, and/orcharge-back information.

FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of thepresent invention which is designated generally by the reference numeral100, in block diagram form. With reference to FIG. 1, the apparatus 100includes a central processing computer 10.

The central processing computer 10 can perform any of theherein-described processing routines and/or processing operations, aswell as any of the communication operations described herein as beingprovided by the apparatus 100 and/or the central processing computer 10.

The central processing computer 10 can be a stand-alone computer,computer system, and/or group of computers, which can be dedicated toperforming the processing routines and functionality of the centralprocessing computer, and/or can be, can be linked to, and/or can beintegrated with, a credit card account authorization computer, a creditcard account issuer computer, a credit account authorization computer, acredit card account administration computer, a credit accountadministration computer, a charge card account authorization computer, acharge card account issuer computer, a charge account authorizationcomputer, a charge card account administration computer, a chargeaccount administration computer, a debit card account authorizationcomputer, a debit card account issuer computer, a debit accountauthorization computer, a debit card account administration computer, adebit account administration computer, an electronic money accountauthorization computer, an electronic money account issuer computer, anelectronic money account administration computer, a checking accountcomputer, a checking account administration computer, a checking accountissuer computer, a bank computer, a financial institution computer,and/or any other computer or computer system which can be utilized inorder to process information, to process transactions, and/or theservice, any of the herein-described accounts.

The central processing computer 10 can process and/or provide any of theinformation described herein as being provided by the apparatus 100and/or can perform any of the processing routines described herein asbeing performed by the apparatus 100.

The central processing computer 10 can be a computer, a computer system,a network computer, a server computer, and/or a communication device,and/or any combination of same.

The central processing computer 10 can service any number of theherein-described merchants, vendors, and/or providers, and/or any of theaccounts with any of the individuals, account holders, and/or accountowners, associated with any of the herein-described accounts.

The central processing computer 10 can include any number of centralprocessing computers. Any number of central processing computers 10 canbe utilized in conjunction with the apparatus 100.

With reference once again to FIG. 1, the apparatus 100 can also includeone or more merchant communication devices or computers 20 (hereinafterreferred to as “merchant computer 20” or “merchant computers 20”) whichcan be associated with any of the herein-described merchants, vendors,and/or providers, who or which utilize the apparatus 100. A merchant,vendor, or provider, can also have multiple merchant computers 20associated therewith.

Any of the herein-described merchant computers can be, can be linkedwith, and/or can be integrated with, a credit card account authorizationdevice, a credit account authorization device, a charge card accountauthorization device, a charge account authorization device, a debitcard account authorization device, a debit account authorization device,an electronic money account authorization device, an automated tellermachine (ATM), a checking account authorization device, and/or a bankand/or financial institution device or computer.

Any number of merchant computers 20 can be utilized in conjunction withthe apparatus 100.

The merchant computer 20 can transmit information to as well as receiveinformation from the central processing computer(s) 10.

The merchant computer 20 can be any one or more of a device, an accountauthorization device, a computer, a computer system, a group ofcomputers, a telephone, a personal computer, a wireless telephone, apersonal digital assistant, a video telephone, a personal communicationdevice, a wireless device, a handheld device, a palm-top device, and/orany other communication device(s) and/or computer(s).

With reference once again to FIG. 1, the apparatus 100 can also includeone or more information provider communication devices or computers 30(hereinafter referred to as “information provider computer 30” or“information provider computers 30”).

The information provider computer 30 can be associated with a creditcard issuer, a credit account administrator, a charge card issuer, acharge account administrator, a debit card issuer, a debit accountadministrator, an electronic money account administrator, a checkingaccount administrator, a bank, a financial institution, any entity whichfacilitates, manages, operates, and/or administers, any of theherein-described accounts, a merchant, a vendor, a provider, a creditrating agency or service, and/or any other entity which can provideinformation regarding any transaction history information, accounthistory information, and/or charge-back information, and/or anyinformation related thereto, for, or regarding, any of the individualsor entities described herein as engaging in transactions with any of theherein-described merchants, vendors, and/or providers.

The information provider computer 30 can transmit information to as wellas receive information from the central processing computer(s) 10. Inthe preferred embodiment, any of the herein-described credit cardissuers, credit account administrators, charge card issuers, chargeaccount administrators, debit card issuers, debit accountadministrators, electronic money account administrators, checkingaccount administrators, banks, financial institutions, any/or orentities, merchants, vendors, providers, credit rating agencies orservices, can access the central processing computer 10 at any time viaits respective information provider computer 30 and transmit and/orprovide, to the central processing computer 10, any of theherein-described transaction history information, account historyinformation, and/or charge-back information, and/or any informationrelated thereto, for, or regarding, any of the individuals or entitiesdescribed herein as engaging in transactions with any of theherein-described merchants, vendors, and/or providers.

The information provider computer 30 can be any one or more a computer,a computer system, and/or a group of computers. Any number ofinformation provider computers 30 can be utilized in conjunction withthe apparatus 100.

The information provider computer 30 can be any one or more of a device,an account authorization device, a computer, a computer system, a groupof computers, a telephone, a personal computer, a wireless telephone, apersonal digital assistant, a video telephone, a personal communicationdevice, a wireless device, a handheld device, a palm-top device, and/orany other communication device(s) and/or computer(s).

Any number of central processing computers 10, merchant computers 20,and/or information provider computers 30, can be utilized in conjunctionwith the present invention.

The central processing computers 10, the merchant computers 20, and/orthe information provider computers 30, can communicate with, transmitinformation to, and/or receive information from, any other centralprocessing computers 10, merchant computers 20, and/or the informationprovider computers 30, over any suitable communication network orsystem, including, but not limited to a telephone network, atelecommunication network, a digital communication network, a satellitecommunication network, a wireless communication network, a personalcommunication services network, a broadband communication network, abluetooth communication network, the Internet, the World Wide Web,and/or any other communication network and/or system.

The apparatus 100 can be utilized on, over, and/or in conjunction with,any suitable communication network or system, including, but not limitedto a telephone network, a telecommunication network, a digitalcommunication network, a satellite communication network, a wirelesscommunication network, a personal communication services network, abroadband communication network, a bluetooth communication network, theInternet, the World Wide Web, and/or any other communication networkand/or system.

Any of the central processing computers 10, The merchant computers 20,and/or the information provider computers 30, can include, whereappropriate and/or where suitable, a central processing unit (CPU), arandom access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), an input device, adisplay device, a receiver, a transmitter, a database, and an outputdevice.

FIG. 2 illustrates the central processing computer 10 of FIG. 1, inblock diagram form. With reference to FIG. 2, the central processingcomputer 10 includes a central processing unit or CPU 10A, which in thepreferred embodiment, is a microprocessor. The CPU 10A may also be amicrocomputer, a minicomputer, a macro-computer, and/or a mainframecomputer, depending upon the application.

The central processing computer 10 also includes a random access memorydevice(s) 10B (RAM) and a read only memory device(s) 10C (ROM), each ofwhich is connected to the CPU 10A, a user input device 10D, for enteringdata and/or commands into the central processing computer 10, whichincludes any one or more of a keyboard, a scanner, a user pointingdevice, such as, for example, a mouse, a touch pad, and/or an audioinput device and/or a video input device, etc., if desired, which inputdevice(s) is also connected to the CPU 10A. The central processingcomputer 10 also includes a display device 10E for displaying dataand/or information to a user or operator.

The central processing computer 10 also includes a transmitter(s) 10F,for transmitting signals and/or data and/or information to any one ormore of the central processing computers 10, the merchant computers 20,and/or the information provider computers 30, which may be utilized inconjunction with the present invention.

The central processing computer 10 also includes a receiver 10G, forreceiving signals and/or data and/or information from any one or more ofthe central processing computer(s) 10, the merchant computers 20, and/orthe information provider computers 30, which may be utilized inconjunction with the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 2, the central processing computer 10 alsoincludes a database 10H. The database 10H can contain any data,information, software programs, software algorithms, and/or any otherinformation needed and/or desired for performing any of the processingroutines and/or functionality described herein as being performed by thecentral processing computer(s) 10 and/or by the apparatus 100.

The database 10H can also include any data and/or information neededand/or desired for performing any of the processing routines and/orfunctionality described herein as being performed by any of the merchantcomputers 20, and/or the information provider computers 30, describedherein.

The database 10H can contain data and/or information regarding any ofthe individuals, entities, account holders, and/or account owners, ofany of the credit card accounts, credit accounts, charge card accounts,charge accounts, debit card accounts, debit accounts, electronic moneyaccounts, and checking accounts, described herein. The database 10H canalso include contact information for any of the individuals, entities,account holders, account owners, including, but not limited to, name(s),address or addresses, mailing address or mailing addresses, telephonenumber(s), facsimile number(s), e-mail address or e-mail addresses,uniform resource locator (URL) or URLs, contact information, and/orcontact name(s).

The database 10H can also contain, for each account, and/or for eachtype of account, the account number, information regarding transactionswhich have occurred on the account, information regarding counterpartsor counterparties to transactions on the account, information regardingaccount payments, information regarding account payment history,information regarding transactions denials made by respectiveindividuals, entities, account holders, and/or account owners,information regarding disputes involving or regarding transactionsinvolving credit card accounts, credit accounts, charge card accounts,charge accounts, debit card accounts, debit accounts, electronic moneyaccounts, checking accounts, information regarding fraudulent use,and/or alleged fraudulent use, credit card accounts, credit accounts,charge card accounts, charge accounts, debit card accounts, debitaccounts, electronic money accounts, checking accounts, informationregarding fraudulent transactions, and/or alleged fraudulenttransactions, on or involving, credit card accounts, credit accounts,charge card accounts, charge accounts, debit card accounts, debitaccounts, electronic money accounts, checking accounts, informationregarding the non-providing, and/or the alleged non-providing, of goods,products, and/or services, in a transaction(s), on or involving, creditcard accounts, credit accounts, charge card accounts, charge accounts,debit card accounts, debit accounts, electronic money accounts, checkingaccounts, information regarding the charging-back of payment(s) in atransaction(s), on or involving, credit card accounts, credit accounts,charge card accounts, charge accounts, debit card accounts, debitaccounts, electronic money accounts, checking accounts, the number ofcharge-backs on an account, the types of transactions involved in acharge-back, the amount of transactions involved a charge-back, the typeof goods, products, and/or services, involved in a charge-back, themerchants, vendors, or providers, involved in a charge-back, theaccounts, individuals, entities, account holders, and/or account owners,involved in a charge-back, the account or account involved in acharge-back, probability and/or statistical information regarding thelikelihood that an account, a transaction, an individual, an entity, anaccount holder, and/or an account owner, can or may be involved in acharge-back, information regarding the stopping of payment in atransaction(s), on or involving, credit card accounts, credit accounts,charge card accounts, charge accounts, debit card accounts, debitaccounts, electronic money accounts, checking accounts, the number ofstopping of payments on an account, the types of transactions involvedin a stopping of payment, the amount of transactions involved a stoppingof payment, the type of goods, products, and/or services, involved in astopping of payment, the merchants, vendors, or providers, involved in astopping of payment, the accounts, individuals, entities, accountholders, and/or account owners, involved in a stopping of payment, theaccount or account involved in a stopping of payment, probability and/orstatistical information regarding the likelihood that an account, atransaction, an individual, an entity, an account holder, and/or anaccount owner, can or may be involved in a stopping of payment, and/orany other related information.

The database 10H can contain data and/or information regarding any ofthe herein-described merchants, vendors, providers, credit card issuers,credit account administrators, charge card issuers, charge accountadministrators, debit card issuers, debit account administrators,electronic money account administrators, checking accountadministrators, banks, financial institutions, any/or or entities,merchants, vendors, providers, credit rating agencies or services,credit agencies, and/or information providers. The database 10H can alsoinclude contact information for any of the herein-described merchants,vendors, providers, credit card issuers, credit account administrators,charge card issuers, charge account administrators, debit card issuers,debit account administrators, electronic money account administrators,checking account administrators, banks, financial institutions, any/oror entities, merchants, vendors, providers, credit rating agencies orservices, credit agencies, and/or information providers, including, butnot limited to, name(s), address or addresses, mailing address ormailing addresses, telephone number(s), facsimile number(s), e-mailaddress or e-mail addresses, uniform resource locator (URL) or URLs,contact information, and/or contact name(s).

The database 10H can also contain information regarding accounts,financial accounts, transaction accounts, and/or non-financial accounts,for, or associated with, any of the herein-described merchants, vendors,providers, credit card issuers, credit account administrators, chargecard issuers, charge account administrators, debit card issuers, debitaccount administrators, electronic money account administrators,checking account administrators, banks, financial institutions, any/oror entities, merchants, vendors, providers, credit rating agencies orservices, credit agencies, and/or information providers.

The database 10H can also contain, for each of the accounts, and/or foreach type of account, for or associated with the respective merchants,vendors, providers, credit card issuers, credit account administrators,charge card issuers, charge account administrators, debit card issuers,debit account administrators, electronic money account administrators,checking account administrators, banks, financial institutions, any/oror entities, merchants, vendors, providers, credit rating agencies orservices, credit agencies, and/or information providers, the accountnumber, information regarding transactions which have occurred on theaccount, information regarding counterparts or counterparties totransactions on the account, information regarding account payments,information regarding account billing collection, information regardingaccount payment history, information regarding account bill collectionhistory, information regarding transactions denials made by respectiveindividuals, entities, account holders, and/or account owners,information regarding disputes involving or regarding transactionsinvolving credit card accounts, credit accounts, charge card accounts,charge accounts, debit card accounts, debit accounts, electronic moneyaccounts, checking accounts, information regarding fraudulent use,and/or alleged fraudulent use, credit card accounts, credit accounts,charge card accounts, charge accounts, debit card accounts, debitaccounts, electronic money accounts, checking accounts, informationregarding fraudulent transactions, and/or alleged fraudulenttransactions, on or involving, credit card accounts, credit accounts,charge card accounts, charge accounts, debit card accounts, debitaccounts, electronic money accounts, checking accounts, informationregarding the non-providing, and/or the alleged non-providing, of goods,products, and/or services, in a transaction(s), on or involving, creditcard accounts, credit accounts, charge card accounts, charge accounts,debit card accounts, debit accounts, electronic money accounts, checkingaccounts, information regarding the charging-back of payment(s) in atransaction(s), on or involving, credit card accounts, credit accounts,charge card accounts, charge accounts, debit card accounts, debitaccounts, electronic money accounts, checking accounts, the number ofcharge-backs on an account, the types of transactions involved in acharge-back, the amount of transactions involved a charge-back, the typeof goods, products, and/or services, involved in a charge-back, theaccounts, merchants, vendors, or providers, involved in a charge-back,the accounts, individuals, entities, account holders, and/or accountowners, involved in a charge-back, the account or account involved in acharge-back, probability and/or statistical information regarding thelikelihood that an account, a transaction, an individual, an entity, anaccount holder, and/or an account owner, can or may be involved in acharge-back, information regarding the stopping of payment in atransaction(s), on or involving, credit card accounts, credit accounts,charge card accounts, charge accounts, debit card accounts, debitaccounts, electronic money accounts, checking accounts, the number ofstopping of payments on an account, the types of transactions involvedin a stopping of payment, the amount of transactions involved a stoppingof payment, the type of goods, products, and/or services, involved in astopping of payment, the accounts, merchants, vendors, or providers,involved in a stopping of payment, the individuals, entities, accountholders, and/or account owners, involved in a stopping of payment, theaccount or account involved in a stopping of payment, probability and/orstatistical information regarding the likelihood that an account, atransaction, an individual, an entity, an account holder, and/or anaccount owner, can or may be involved in a stopping of payment, and/orany other related information.

The database 10H can also include information regarding resolution ofdisputes, resolution of transactions denials, resolution of allegefraudulent use of account accusations, resolution of charge-backs,resolution of stopping of payments, and/or any other information for, orregarding, any of the herein-described accounts, and/or any of theindividuals, entities, account holders, account owners, merchants,vendors, providers, and/or any of the credit card issuers, creditaccount administrators, charge card issuers, charge accountadministrators, debit card issuers, debit account administrators,electronic money account administrators, checking accountadministrators, banks, financial institutions, any/or or entities,described herein.

The database 10H can also contain account Information any other accountinformation, account identification information, account historyinformation, account payment information, account non-paymentinformation, transaction information, information regarding transactiondenial, account charge-back information, account stopping of paymentinformation, and/or any other pertinent or relevant information neededand/or desired for performing any of the processing routines and/orfunctionality described herein as being performed and/or as beingprovided by the central processing computer and/or the apparatus 100.

Any of the data and/or information described herein can be provided frommultiple information sources and/or from multiple individuals orentities by utilizing any of the respective central processing computers10, merchant computers 20, and/or information provider computers 30.

The database 10H can also contain any other information which may berelevant, pertinent, useful, and/or desired, for facilitating theoperation of the apparatus and method of the present invention asdescribed herein and/or as related thereto.

The database 10H, in the preferred embodiment, is a database which mayinclude individual databases or collections of databases, with eachdatabase being designated to store any and all of the data and/orinformation described herein. Applicant hereby incorporates by referenceherein the teachings of Basic Business Statistics Concepts andApplications, Mark L. Berenson and David M. Levine, 6^(th) Edition,Prentice Hall 1996.

The database 10H, or collection of databases, may be updated by each ofthe respective users, individuals, central processing computer operatorsor administrators, merchants, vendors, providers, credit card issuers,credit account administrators, charge card issuers, charge accountadministrators, debit card issuers, debit account administrators,electronic money account administrators, checking accountadministrators, banks, financial institutions, any/or or entities,merchants, vendors, providers, credit rating agencies or services,credit agencies, and/or information providers, in real-time and/orotherwise, and/or via dynamically linked database management techniques.

It is envisioned, in the preferred embodiment, that the database 10H, orcollection of databases, can be updated upon the availability of, and/orthe making available of, any information and/or information updatesconcerning any of the information, account information, and/or otherinformation, described herein as being stored in the database 10H. Theinformation stored in the database 10H can be updated by any of theherein-described users, individuals, central processing computeroperators or administrators, merchants, vendors, providers, credit cardissuers, credit account administrators, charge card issuers, chargeaccount administrators, debit card issuers, debit accountadministrators, electronic money account administrators, checkingaccount administrators, banks, financial institutions, any/or orentities, merchants, vendors, providers, credit rating agencies orservices, credit agencies, and/or information providers, who or whichcan provide the information to the central processing computer 10 in anyappropriate manner and/or who or which can transmit the information tothe central processing computer 10 via a respective merchant computer20, via a respective information provider computer 30, and/or via anyother computer or communication device, in real-time and/or otherwise.

The data and/or information stored in the database 10H can also beupdated by external sources. The database 10H will contain any and allinformation deemed necessary and/or desirable for providing all of theprocessing and/or services and/or functions described herein. Applicanthereby incorporates by reference herein the subject matter ofFundamentals of Database Systems, by Ramez Elmasri and Shamkant B.Navathe, 2^(nd) Ed., Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1994.

With reference once again to FIG. 2, the central processing computer 10also includes an output device 10I such as a printer, a modem, afax/modem, or other output device, for outputting information to theoperator or user of the central processing computer 10 or to a thirdparty or third party entity.

The apparatus 100 and method of the present invention can be utilized,in a preferred embodiment, in order to provide information to amerchant, vendor, or provider, regarding charge-backs, stopping ofpayments, and/or failures to make payments, which have occurred in anaccount of an individual or entity with whom the respective merchant,vendor, or provider, is currently engaging in a transaction. Forexample, a merchant can obtain information indicating that a purchasingindividual has, in the past, engaged in credit card charge disputingactivity regarding a previous transaction which has resulted in acharge-back to the merchant involved in the previous transaction.

The apparatus 100 can provide detailed information to the merchantregarding the transaction and subsequent activities. For example, theapparatus 100 can provide the merchant with information indicating thatthe purchase was an on-line credit card purchase, that the purchasingindividual provided certain identification and/or other information, andthat the individual credit card account holder later claimed to have notmade, or did not authorize the credit card purchase.

In another preferred embodiment, the apparatus 100 and method of thepresent invention can be utilized in order to determine whether anindividual paying for a transaction by check has previously stoppedpayment of a check in a previous transaction. The apparatus 100 andmethod of the present invention can also provide information regardingthe transaction and subsequent activities.

In another preferred embodiment, the apparatus 100 and method of thepresent invention can be utilized in order to determine whether anindividual paying for a transaction with a check has previously had acheck returned due to insufficient funds and/or “bounced” a check.

In another preferred embodiment, the apparatus 100 and method of thepresent invention can be utilized in order to provide transactionhistory information, account history information, and/or charge-backinformation, including the above-described charge-back, check stoppingof payment, or check bouncing, information, during a transactionauthorization process, prior to an transaction authorization process,subsequent to transaction authorization process, and/or prior to agoods, products, and/or services, shipment and/or delivery.

In another preferred embodiment, the apparatus 100 and method of thepresent invention can be utilized in conjunction with a transactionprocess and/or a transaction authorization process.

FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment method for utilizing theapparatus 100 of the present invention, in flow diagram form. In theembodiment of FIG. 3, the apparatus 100 of the present invention can beutilized in order to provide information to a merchant, vendor, orprovider, regarding a charge-back(s), a stopping of payment(s), and/or anon-payment(s) due to insufficient funds, which have occurred on, inconjunction with, and/or relating to, any of the herein-describedaccounts.

The embodiment of FIG. 3 can be utilized to provide informationregarding charge-backs which have occurred on, in conjunction with,and/or relating to, credit card accounts, credit accounts, charge cardaccounts, charge accounts, debit card accounts, debit accounts, checkingaccounts, bank accounts, automated teller machine accounts, and/or otheraccounts.

The embodiment of FIG. 3 can also be utilized in order to provideinformation regarding stopping of payments which have occurred on, inconjunction with, and/or relating to, credit card accounts, creditaccounts, charge card accounts, charge accounts, debit card accounts,debit accounts, checking accounts, bank accounts, automated tellermachine accounts, and/or other accounts.

The embodiment of FIG. 3 can also be utilized in order to provideinformation regarding non-payment due to insufficient funds which haveoccurred on, in conjunction with, and/or relating to, credit cardaccounts, credit accounts, charge card accounts, charge accounts, debitcard accounts, debit accounts, checking accounts, bank accounts,automated teller machine accounts, and/or other accounts.

The embodiment of FIG. 3 will be described as being utilized in order toprovide information regarding charge-backs which have occurred on, inconjunction with, and/or relating to a credit card account or a chargecard account. The embodiment of FIG. 3 can be utilized in a same, in asimilar, and/or in an analogous manner, in order to provide any one ormore of information regarding charge-backs, information regardingstopping of payments, and/or information regarding non-payment due toinsufficient funds, which have occurred on, in conjunction with, and/orrelating to any one or more of credit card accounts, credit accounts,charge card accounts, charge accounts, debit card accounts, debitaccounts, checking accounts, bank accounts, automated teller machineaccounts, and/or other accounts.

With reference to FIG. 3, the operation of the apparatus 100 commencesat step 300. At step 301, a merchant who is engaged in a transactionwith an individual, who is utilizing a credit card account or a chargecard account to effect payment for a transaction involving any type orkind of goods, products, and/or services, can access the centralprocessing computer 10 via a merchant computer 20.

At step 301, the merchant can access the central processing computer 10and enter information regarding the transaction and/or informationregarding the credit card account or the charge card account which theindividual has presented for payment, into the merchant computer 20associated with the merchant. The information can, for example, beentered into a transaction authorization device which can be utilized asa merchant computer 20. At step 302, the information entered into themerchant computer 20, at step 301, is transmitted to the centralprocessing computer 10.

A step 303, the central processing computer 10 will receive theinformation. At step 304, the central processing computer 10 willprocess the information received, at step 303, in conjunction with theinformation stored in the database 10H. At step 304, the centralprocessing computer 10 will generate a charge-back information report.

The charge-back information report can contain any of theherein-described information which is stored in the database 10H. Thecharge-back information report can, for example, contain informationregarding the number and frequency of charge-backs which have occurredon the respective credit card account or charge card account, thereasons for the charge-back action, allegations made by the accountholder or account owner, dispute allegations made by the account holderor account owner, allegations of fraudulent or unauthorized accountactivity made by the account holder or account owner, the basis for anyof the above-described allegations, allegations or responses made by themerchants, vendors, or providers, involved in the transactions inquestion, transactions amounts involved, probability or statisticalinformation regarding whether the account holder or account owner can bea charge-back risk in the present transaction, and/or any otherinformation regarding charge-back(s) which have occurred on therespective account, which can or which may be useful to and/or ofinterest to a merchant, vendor, or provider, in assessing whether or notthe present transaction may present a charge-back risk.

In the case when the apparatus 100 is utilized to provide stopping ofpayment information or information regarding non-payment(s) due toinsufficient funds, such as in the case of check payments, debitpayments, electronic money payments, and/or other payments, the centralprocessing computer 10 will, at step 304, process the informationregarding the respective transaction and information regarding therespective account in conjunction with the information stored in thedatabase 10H and generate a respective stopping of payment informationreport or non-payment(s) due to insufficient funds information report.

The respective stopping of payment(s) information report ornon-payment(s) due to insufficient funds information report can containany of the herein-described information which is stored in the database10H. The respective stopping of payment(s) information report ornon-payment(s) due to insufficient funds information report can, forexample, contain information regarding the number and frequency ofrespective stopping of payment(s) or non-payment(s) due to insufficientfunds which have occurred on the respective account, the reasons for therespective stopping of payment(s) or non-payment(s) due to insufficientfunds, allegations made by the account holder or account owner, disputeallegations made by the account holder or account owner, allegations offraudulent or unauthorized account activity made by the account holderor account owner, the basis for any of the above-described allegations,allegations or responses made by the merchants, vendors, or providers,involved in the transactions in question, transactions amounts involved,probability or statistical information regarding whether the accountholder or account owner can be a respective stopping of payment(s) riskor non-payment(s) due to insufficient funds risk in the presenttransaction, and/or any other information regarding respective stoppingof payment(s) or non-payment(s) due to insufficient funds which haveoccurred on the respective account, which can or which may be useful toand/or of interest to a merchant, vendor, or provider, in assessingwhether or not the present transaction may present a respective stoppingof payment(s) risk or non-payment(s) due to insufficient funds risk.

At step 305, the central processing computer 10 can transmit thecharge-back information report (or the respective stopping of paymentinformation report or non-payment(s) due to insufficient fundsinformation report, if applicable), to the merchant computer 20. Thecharge-back information report (or the respective stopping of paymentinformation report or non-payment(s) due to insufficient fundsinformation report, if applicable) can also be transmitted to themerchant or to the merchant computer 20 as any one or more of an e-mailmessage, an instant messaging message, a short message, a beepermessage, a pager message, a telephone message, a recorded voice message,and/or any other electronic message or electronic transmission.

At step 306, the merchant computer 10 can receive the charge-backinformation report (or the respective stopping of payment informationreport or non-payment(s) due to insufficient funds information report,if applicable).

At step 307, the information provided and/or contained in thecharge-back information report (or the respective stopping of paymentinformation report or non-payment(s) due to insufficient fundsinformation report, if applicable) can be displayed to the merchant orthe merchant's employee or agent, can be output or printed out, and/orcan otherwise be provided to the merchant or the merchant's employee oragent.

At step 308, the merchant or the merchant's employee or agent can reviewthe information contained in the charge-back information report (or therespective stopping of payment information report or non-payment(s) dueto insufficient funds information report, if applicable) and determinewhether or not to proceed to engage in the transaction, to proceed toprocess the transaction, to proceed to consummate the transaction, or tocancel the transaction. In this manner, for example, a merchant can beapprised of past credit card or charge card disputes, denials,fraudulent use allegations, charge-back impositions, and/orcyber-shoplifting activity, which occurred on an account, which may beidentified in the respective charge-back information report, or anyother respective information which may be contained in the respectivestopping of payment information report or non-payment(s) due toinsufficient funds information report.

The merchant can then utilize the report information in order todetermine either not to proceed with the transaction, to cancel thetransaction or order, to request additional information, to requestinformation to confirm and/or verify the transaction and the accountholder's or the account owner's authority to enter into the transaction,to request additional assurances from the account holder or accountowner, to secure the account holder's or the account owner's agreementnot to dispute a charge or payment, to secure the account holder's orthe account owner's agreement not to stop payment for a charge orpayment, to secure the account holder's or the account owner's guaranteethat sufficient funds exist to cover a payment, to secure the accountholder's or the account owner's alternate agreement to guarantee paymentfor a charge, to secure a release of liability or claim from the accountholder or account owner regarding the transaction, and/or the merchantcan take any other action in order to protect its interests.

Thereafter, the operation of the apparatus 100 will cease at step 309.

In another preferred embodiment, the apparatus 100 and method of thepresent invention can be utilized in order to provide respectivecharge-back information, stopping of payment information, and/ornon-payment due to insufficient funds information, to a merchant,vendor, or provider, at any time prior to the merchant's, the vendor's,or the provider's, delivery, transfer, or shipment, of the respectivegoods, products, and/or services, to an individual, entity, accountholder, or account owner. In this regard, for example, the apparatus 100can process and provide information to the merchant prior to themerchant's delivery, transfer, or shipment, of a good or product, to theaccount holder, thereby allowing the merchant to ascertain, evaluate,and/or determine, the charge-back risks, the stopping of payment risks,and/or the non-payment due to insufficient funds risks, which exist, orwhich may exist, in a transaction, prior to the merchant delivering,transferring, and/or shipping the good or product to the counterparty oraccount holder, and/or otherwise relinquishing possession of, or titleto, the good or product.

In this manner, the apparatus 100 can be utilized in order to allow amerchant, vendor, or provider, to reduce charge-back or non-paymentrisks and/or to otherwise protect its interests.

FIG. 4 illustrates another preferred embodiment method for utilizing theapparatus 100 of the present invention, in flow diagram form. In theembodiment of FIG. 4, the apparatus 100 of the present invention can beutilized in order to provide information to a merchant, vendor, orprovider, regarding a charge-back(s), a stopping of payment(s), and/or anon-payment(s) due to insufficient funds, which have occurred on, inconjunction with, and/or relating to, any of the herein-describedaccounts.

The information can be provided to the merchant, vendor, or provider, atany time prior to a pre-specified time in order to allow the merchant,vendor, or provider, to receive and review the information subsequent tothe transaction but prior to delivering, transferring, or shipping, therespective goods, products, or services, to a recipient pursuant to atransaction. In this manner, for example, a merchant can process atransaction, provide information regarding a shipping or delivery dateand receive the requested information prior to shipping or delivering agood or product to a recipient, a customer, or account holder or accountowner.

For example, a merchant who or which ships goods or products three (3)days after an order is place can be provided with transaction historyinformation, account history information, and/or charge-back informationregarding the account or the account holder or account owner prior toshipping or delivering the goods or products, thereby giving themerchant the opportunity utilize the report information in order todetermine either not to proceed with the transaction, to requestadditional information, to request information to confirm and/or verifythe transaction and the account holder's or the account owner'sauthority to enter into the transaction, to request additionalassurances from the account holder or account owner, to secure theaccount holder's or the account owner's agreement not to dispute acharge or payment, to secure the account holder's or the account owner'sagreement not to stop payment for a charge or payment, to secure theaccount holder's or the account owner's guarantee that sufficient fundsexist to cover a payment, to secure the account holder's or the accountowner's alternate agreement to guarantee payment for a charge, to securea release of liability or claim from the account holder or account ownerregarding the transaction, and/or the merchant can take any other actionin order to protect its interests.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 can also be utilized in order to provideinformation regarding stopping of payments which have occurred on, inconjunction with, and/or relating to, credit card accounts, creditaccounts, charge card accounts, charge accounts, debit card accounts,debit accounts, checking accounts, bank accounts, automated tellermachine accounts, and/or other accounts.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 can also be utilized in order to provideinformation regarding non-payment due to insufficient funds which haveoccurred on, in conjunction with, and/or relating to, credit cardaccounts, credit accounts, charge card accounts, charge accounts, debitcard accounts, debit accounts, checking accounts, bank accounts,automated teller machine accounts, and/or other accounts.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 will be described as being utilized in order toprovide information regarding charge-backs which have occurred on, inconjunction with, and/or relating to a credit card account or a chargecard account. It is to be understood, however, that the embodiment ofFIG. 4 can be utilized in a same, in a similar, and/or in an analogousmanner, in order to provide any one or more of information regardingcharge-backs, information regarding stopping of payments, and/orinformation regarding non-payment due to insufficient funds, which haveoccurred on, in conjunction with, and/or relating to any one or more ofcredit card accounts, credit accounts, charge card accounts, chargeaccounts, debit card accounts, debit accounts, checking accounts, bankaccounts, automated teller machine accounts, and/or other accounts.

With reference to FIG. 4, the operation of the apparatus 100 commencesat step 400. At step 401, a merchant who is engaged in a transactionwith an individual, who is utilizing a credit card account or a chargecard account to effect payment for a transaction involving any type orkind of goods, products, and/or services, can access the centralprocessing computer 10 via a merchant computer 20.

At step 401, the merchant can access the central processing computer 10and enter information regarding the transaction and/or informationregarding the credit card account or the charge card account which theindividual has presented for payment, into the merchant computer 20associated with the merchant. The merchant can also enter informationregarding its shipping, transferring, or delivery, policies, includingthe time period (i.e. hours, days, etc.) which typically elapses inbetween a merchant taking an order or processing an order and shipping,transferring, or delivering, the goods, products, or services, which arethe subject of the transaction, and/or otherwise fulfilling the order orobligations under the transaction. The merchant can also enterinformation regarding the shipping, transferring, and/or delivery, dateand/or time. The merchant can also enter a time limit or time period forreceiving the report.

The information can, for example, be entered into a transactionauthorization device which can be utilized as a merchant computer 20. Atstep 402, the information entered into the merchant computer 20, at step401, is transmitted to the central processing computer 10.

A step 403, the central processing computer 10 will receive theinformation. At step 404, the central processing computer 10 willprocess the information received, at step 403, in conjunction with theinformation stored in the database 10H. At step 404, the centralprocessing computer 10 can generate the charge-back information reportimmediately and/or at any time prior to the time limit specified by themerchant for receiving the report and/or prior to the shipping,transferring, and/or delivery, date and/or time.

If the central processing computer 10 has sufficient information forgenerating the charge-back information report, the central processingcomputer 10 can generate the charge-back information report. If thecentral processing computer 10 does not have all of the information forgenerating the charge-back information report, the central processingcomputer 10 can generate the charge-back information report at any timeafter it receives the information, but prior to the elapsing of themerchant-defined time limit or time period.

In any of the embodiments described herein, the central processingcomputer 10 can be programmed to check the information stored in thedatabase 10H, at specific and/or various time intervals, in order todetermine if the needed information has been provided and/or has beenmade available for processing and generating the charge-back informationreport information.

The central processing computer 10 can generate the charge-backinformation report upon getting the needed information. If the neededinformation is not available prior to the elapsing of the time limit ortime period, the central processing computer 10 can generate acharge-back information report containing any available information andprovide information regarding which information is missing or is notavailable.

The charge-back information report can contain any of theherein-described information which is stored in the database 10H. Thecharge-back information report can, for example, contain informationregarding the number and frequency of charge-backs which have occurredon the respective credit card account or charge card account, thereasons for the charge-back action, allegations made by the accountholder or account owner, dispute allegations made by the account holderor account owner, allegations of fraudulent or unauthorized accountactivity made by the account holder or account owner, the basis for anyof the above-described allegations, allegations or responses made by themerchants, vendors, or providers, involved in the transactions inquestion, transactions amounts involved, probability or statisticalinformation regarding whether the account holder or account owner can bea charge-back risk in the present transaction, and/or any otherinformation regarding charge-back(s) which have occurred on therespective account, which can or which may be useful to and/or ofinterest to a merchant, vendor, or provider, in assessing whether or notthe present transaction may present a charge-back risk.

The charge-back information report can also contain informationregarding information which is missing and/or not available at the timeof report generation.

In the case when the apparatus 100 is utilized to provide stopping ofpayment information or information regarding non-payment(s) due toinsufficient funds, such as in the case of check payments, debitpayments, electronic money payments, and/or other payments, the centralprocessing computer 10 will, at step 404, process the informationregarding the respective transaction and information regarding therespective account in conjunction with the information stored in thedatabase 10H and generate a respective stopping of payment informationreport or non-payment(s) due to insufficient funds information report.

The respective stopping of payment(s) report or non-payment(s) due toinsufficient funds information report can contain any of theherein-described information which is stored in the database 10H. Therespective stopping of payment(s) information report or non-payment(s)due to insufficient funds information report can, for example, containinformation regarding the number and frequency of respective stopping ofpayment(s) or non-payment(s) due to insufficient funds which haveoccurred on the respective account, the reasons for the respectivestopping of payment(s) or non-payment(s) due to insufficient funds,allegations made by the account holder or account owner, disputeallegations made by the account holder or account owner, allegations offraudulent or unauthorized account activity made by the account holderor account owner, the basis for any of the above-described allegations,allegations or responses made by the merchants, vendors, or providers,involved in the transactions in question, transactions amounts involved,probability or statistical information regarding whether the accountholder or account owner can be a respective stopping of payment(s) riskor non-payment(s) due to insufficient funds risk in the presenttransaction, and/or any other information regarding respective stoppingof payment(s) or non-payment(s) due to insufficient funds which haveoccurred on the respective account, which can or which may be useful toand/or of interest to a merchant, vendor, or provider, in assessingwhether or not the present transaction may present a respective stoppingof payment(s) risk or non-payment(s) due to insufficient funds risk. Therespective stopping of payment(s) information report or non-payment(s)due to insufficient information funds information report can alsocontain information regarding information which is missing and/or notavailable at the time of report generation.

At step 405, the central processing computer 10 can transmit thecharge-back information report (or the respective stopping of paymentinformation report or non-payment(s) due to insufficient fundsinformation report, if applicable), to the merchant computer 20. Thecharge-back information report (or the respective stopping of paymentinformation report or non-payment(s) due to insufficient fundsinformation report, if applicable) can also be transmitted to themerchant or to the merchant computer 20 as any one or more of an e-mailmessage, an instant messaging message, a short message, a beepermessage, a pager message, a telephone message, a recorded voice message,and/or any other electronic message or electronic transmission.

At step 406, the merchant computer 10 can receive the charge-backinformation report (or the respective stopping of payment informationreport or non-payment(s) due to insufficient funds information report,if applicable).

At step 407, the information provided and/or contained in thecharge-back information report (or the respective stopping of paymentinformation report or non-payment(s) due to insufficient fundsinformation report, if applicable) can be displayed to the merchant orthe merchant's employee or agent, can be output or printed out, and/orcan otherwise be provided to the merchant or the merchant's employee oragent.

At step 408, the merchant or the merchant's employee or agent can reviewthe information contained in the charge-back information report (or therespective stopping of payment information report or non-payment(s) dueto insufficient funds information report, if applicable) and determinewhether or not to proceed to engage in the transaction, to proceed toprocess the transaction, to proceed to consummate the transaction, or tocancel the transaction. In this manner, for example, a merchant can beapprised of past credit card or charge card disputes, denials,fraudulent use allegations, charge-back impositions, and/orcyber-shoplifting activity, which occurred on an account, which may beidentified in the respective charge-back information report, or anyother respective information which may be contained in the respectivestopping of payment information report or non-payment(s) due toinsufficient funds information report.

The merchant can then utilize the report information in order todetermine either not to proceed with the transaction, to cancel thetransaction or order, to request additional information, to requestinformation to confirm and/or verify the transaction and the accountholder's or the account owner's authority to enter into the transaction,to request additional assurances from the account holder or accountowner, to secure the account holder's or the account owner's agreementnot to dispute a charge or payment, to secure the account holder's orthe account owner's agreement not to stop payment for a charge orpayment, to secure the account holder's or the account owner's guaranteethat sufficient funds exist to cover a payment, to secure the accountholder's or the account owner's alternate agreement to guarantee paymentfor a charge, to secure a release of liability or claim from the accountholder or account owner regarding the transaction, and/or the merchantcan take any other action in order to protect its interests, prior toshipping, transferring, or delivering, the respective goods, products,and/or services, and/or otherwise fulfill the order or merchant'sobligations relating to the transaction.

Thereafter, the operation of the apparatus 100 will cease at step 409.

In another preferred embodiment, the apparatus and method of the presentinvention can be utilized in conjunction with, and/or along with, atransaction authorization process.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate another preferred embodiment method forutilizing the apparatus 100 of the present invention, in flow diagramform. In the embodiment of FIGS. 5A and 5B, the apparatus 100 of thepresent invention can be utilized in order to provide information to amerchant, vendor, or provider, regarding a charge-back(s), a stopping ofpayment(s), and/or a non-payment(s) due to insufficient funds, whichhave occurred on, in conjunction with, and/or relating to, any of theherein-described accounts, in conjunction with, and/or in connectionwith a transaction authorization process.

The embodiment of FIGS. 5A and 5B can be utilized to provide informationregarding charge-backs which have occurred on, in conjunction with,and/or relating to, credit card accounts, credit accounts, charge cardaccounts, charge accounts, debit card accounts, debit accounts, checkingaccounts, bank accounts, automated teller machine accounts, and/or otheraccounts.

The embodiment of FIGS. 5A and 5B can also be utilized in order toprovide information regarding stopping of payments which have occurredon, in conjunction with, and/or relating to, credit card accounts,credit accounts, charge card accounts, charge accounts, debit cardaccounts, debit accounts, checking accounts, bank accounts, automatedteller machine accounts, and/or other accounts.

The embodiment of FIGS. 5A and 5B can also be utilized in order toprovide information regarding non-payment due to insufficient fundswhich have occurred on, in conjunction with, and/or relating to, creditcard accounts, credit accounts, charge card accounts, charge accounts,debit card accounts, debit accounts, checking accounts, bank accounts,automated teller machine accounts, and/or other accounts.

The embodiment of FIGS. 5A and 5B will be described as being utilized inorder to provide information regarding charge-backs which have occurredon, in conjunction with, and/or relating to a credit card account or acharge card account. The embodiment of FIGS. 5A and 5B can also beutilized in a same, in a similar, and/or in an analogous manner, inorder to provide any one or more of information regarding charge-backs,information regarding stopping of payments, and/or information regardingnon-payment due to insufficient funds, which have occurred on, inconjunction with, and/or relating to any one or more of credit cardaccounts, credit accounts, charge card accounts, charge accounts, debitcard accounts, debit accounts, checking accounts, bank accounts,automated teller machine accounts, and/or other accounts.

With reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the operation of the apparatus 100commences at step 500. At step 501, a merchant who is engaged in atransaction with an individual, who is utilizing a credit card accountor a charge card account to effect payment for a transaction involvingany type or kind of goods, products, and/or services, can access thecentral processing computer 10 via a merchant computer 20.

At step 501, the merchant can access the central processing computer 10and enter information regarding the transaction and/or informationregarding the credit card account or the charge card account which theindividual has presented for payment, into the merchant computer 20associated with the merchant. The information can, for example, beentered into a transaction authorization device which can be utilized asa merchant computer 20. At step 502, the information entered into themerchant computer 20, at step 501, is transmitted to the centralprocessing computer 10.

A step 503, the central processing computer 10 will receive theinformation. At step 504, the central processing computer 10 willprocess the information received, at step 503, and determine if thetransaction is authorized. At step 504, the central processing computer10 will generate a transaction authorization report and transmit same tothe merchant computer 20 for review by the merchant. The transactionauthorization report can also be transmitted to the merchant or to themerchant computer 20 as any one or more of an e-mail message, an instantmessaging message, a short message, a beeper message, a pager message, atelephone message, a recorded voice message, and/or any other electronicmessage or electronic transmission.

The transaction authorization report can contain information regardingwhether the transaction is authorized or that the transaction in notauthorized.

At step 505, the central processing computer 10 will determine whetherthe transaction is authorized. If, at step 505, the central processingcomputer 10 determines that the transaction is authorized, the operationof the central processing computer 10 will proceed to step 506. If,however, the central processing computer 10 determines, at step 505,that the transaction is not authorized, the operation of the centralprocessing computer 10 will cease at step 512.

At step 506, the central processing computer 10 will process theinformation received, at step 503, in conjunction with the informationstored in the database 10H. At step 506, the central processing computer10 will generate a charge-back information report.

The charge-back information report can contain any of theherein-described information which is stored in the database 10H. Thecharge-back information report can, for example, contain informationregarding the number and frequency of charge-backs which have occurredon the respective credit card account or charge card account, thereasons for the charge-back action, allegations made by the accountholder or account owner, dispute allegations made by the account holderor account owner, allegations of fraudulent or unauthorized accountactivity made by the account holder or account owner, the basis for anyof the above-described allegations, allegations or responses made by themerchants, vendors, or providers, involved in the transactions inquestion, transactions amounts involved, probability or statisticalinformation regarding whether the account holder or account owner can bea charge-back risk in the present transaction, and/or any otherinformation regarding charge-back(s) which have occurred on therespective account, which can or which may be useful to and/or ofinterest to a merchant, vendor, or provider, in assessing whether or notthe present transaction may present a charge-back risk.

In the case when the apparatus 100 is utilized to provide stopping ofpayment information or information regarding non-payment(s) due toinsufficient funds, such as in the case of check payments, debitpayments, electronic money payments, and/or other payments, the centralprocessing computer 10 will, at step 506, process the informationregarding the respective transaction and information regarding therespective account in conjunction with the information stored in thedatabase 10H and generate a respective stopping of payment informationreport or non-payment(s) due to insufficient funds information report.

The respective stopping of payment(s) report or non-payment(s) due toinsufficient funds information report can contain any of theherein-described information which is stored in the database 10H. Therespective stopping of payments) report or non-payment(s) due toinsufficient funds information report can, for example, containinformation regarding the number and frequency of respective stopping ofpayment(s) or non-payment(s) due to insufficient funds which haveoccurred on the respective account, the reasons for the respectivestopping of payment(s) or non-payment(s) due to insufficient funds,allegations made by the account holder or account owner, disputeallegations made by the account holder or account owner, allegations offraudulent or unauthorized account activity made by the account holderor account owner, the basis for any of the above-described allegations,allegations or responses made by the merchants, vendors, or providers,involved in the transactions in question, transactions amounts involved,probability or statistical information regarding whether the accountholder or account owner can be a respective stopping of payment(s) riskor non-payment(s) due to insufficient funds risk in the presenttransaction, and/or any other information regarding respective stoppingof payment(s) or non-payment(s) due to insufficient funds which haveoccurred on the respective account, which can or which may be useful toand/or of interest to a merchant, vendor, or provider, in assessingwhether or not the present transaction may present a respective stoppingof payment(s) risk or non-payment(s) due to insufficient funds risk.

At step 507, the central processing computer 10 can transmit thecharge-back information report (or the respective stopping of paymentinformation report or non-payment(s) due to insufficient fundsinformation report, if applicable), to the merchant computer 20.

The charge-back information report (or the respective stopping ofpayment information report or non-payment(s) due to insufficient fundsinformation report, if applicable) can also be transmitted to themerchant or to the merchant computer 20 as any one or more of an e-mailmessage, an instant messaging message, a short message, a beepermessage, a pager message, a telephone message, a recorded voice message,and/or any other electronic message or electronic transmission.

At step 508, the merchant computer 10 can receive the charge-backinformation report (or the respective stopping of payment informationreport or non-payment(s) due to insufficient funds information report,if applicable).

At step 509, the information provided and/or contained in thecharge-back information report (or the respective stopping of paymentinformation report or non-payment(s) due to insufficient fundsinformation report, if applicable) can be displayed to the merchant orthe merchant's employee or agent, can be output or printed out, and/orcan otherwise be provided to the merchant or the merchant's employee oragent.

At step 510, the merchant or the merchant's employee or agent can reviewthe information contained in the charge-back information report (or therespective stopping of payment information report or non-payment(s) dueto insufficient funds information report, if applicable) and determinewhether or not to proceed to engage in the transaction, to proceed toprocess the transaction, to proceed to consummate the transaction, or tocancel the transaction. In this manner, for example, a merchant can beapprised of past credit card or charge card disputes, denials,fraudulent use allegations, charge-back impositions, and/orcyber-shoplifting activity, which occurred on an account, which may beidentified in the respective charge-back information report, or anyother respective information which may be contained in the respectivestopping of payment information report or non-payment(s) due toinsufficient funds information report.

The merchant can then utilize the report information in order todetermine either not to proceed with the transaction, to cancel thetransaction or order, to request additional information, to requestinformation to confirm and/or verify the transaction and the accountholder's or the account owner's authority to enter into the transaction,to request additional assurances from the account holder or accountowner, to secure the account holder's or the account owner's agreementnot to dispute a charge or payment, to secure the account holder's orthe account owner's agreement not to stop payment for a charge orpayment, to secure the account holder's or the account owner's guaranteethat sufficient funds exist to cover a payment, to secure the accountholder's or the account owner's alternate agreement to guarantee paymentfor a charge, to secure a release of liability or claim from the accountholder or account owner regarding the transaction, and/or the merchantcan take any other action in order to protect its interests.

Thereafter, the operation of the apparatus 100 will cease at step 511.

In another preferred embodiment, the apparatus 100 of FIGS. 5A and 5B,can be utilized in order to provide respective charge-back information,stopping of payment information, and/or non-payment due to insufficientfunds information, to a merchant, vendor, or provider, at any time priorto the merchant's, the vendor's, or the provider's, delivery, transfer,or shipment, of the respective goods, products, and/or services, to anindividual, entity, account holder, or account owner. In this regard,for example, the apparatus 100 can process and provide information tothe merchant prior to the merchant's delivery, transfer, or shipment, ofa good or product, to the account holder, thereby allowing the merchantto ascertain, evaluate, and/or determine, the charge-back risks, thestopping of payment risks, and/or the non-payment due to insufficientfunds risks, which exist, or which may exist, in a transaction, prior tothe merchant delivering, transferring, and/or shipping the good orproduct to the counterparty or account holder, and/or otherwiserelinquishing possession of, or title to, the good or product. In thismanner, the apparatus 100 of FIGS. 5A and 5B can be utilized in order toallow a merchant, vendor, or provider, to reduce charge-back ornon-payment risks and/or to otherwise protect its interests.

In another preferred embodiment, as well as in any of the embodimentsdescribed herein, intelligent agents, software agents, mobile agents,and/or related technologies, can be utilized in conjunction with thepresent invention. The respective intelligent agent(s), softwareagent(s), mobile agent(s), (hereinafter referred to collectively as“intelligent agent” or “intelligent agents”) can be programmed and/ordesigned to act on behalf of any of the respective merchants, vendors,or providers, described herein as utilizing the apparatus 100 of thepresent invention, so as to act on behalf of the respective merchants,vendors, or providers, as well as to perform any of processing functionsand/or other functions described herein.

The intelligent agent can act on behalf of the respective merchants,vendors, or providers, in various activities which are described asbeing performed herein and/or which may be incidental and/or relatedthereto. Therefore, the present invention also provides an agent-basedapparatus and method for providing transaction history information,account history information, and/or charge-back information.

Applicant hereby incorporates by reference herein the subject matter ofthe Agent Sourcebook, A Complete Guide to Desktop, Internet and IntranetAgents, by Alper Caglayan and Colin Harrison, Wiley Computer Publishing,1997. Applicant also incorporates by reference herein the subject matterof Cool Intelligent Agents For The Net, by Leslie L. Lesnick with RalphE. Moore, IDG Books Worldwide, Inc. 1997.

The apparatus of the present invention, in any and/or all of theembodiments described herein, can also be programmed to beself-activating and/or activated automatically.

While the present invention has been described and illustrated invarious preferred and alternate embodiments, such descriptions aremerely illustrative of the present invention and are not to be construedto be limitations thereof. In this regard, the present inventionencompasses all modifications, variations, and/or alternate embodiments,with the scope of the present invention being limited only by the claimswhich follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:receiving, with a receiver, information regarding a transactioninvolving an individual and involving an account, wherein theinformation regarding the transaction is received by the receiver priorto a processing, a completion, a consummation, or a cancellation, of thetransaction; processing, with a processing device or with a computer,the information regarding the transaction; generating, with theprocessing device or with the computer, a report or a message inresponse to the processing of the information regarding the transaction,wherein the report or the message contains information regarding acharge-back regarding a previous transaction involving the individual;and transmitting, with or from a transmitter, the processing device, orthe computer, the report or the message to a communication deviceassociated with a merchant, a vendor, or a provider, of a good, aproduct, or a service.
 2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1,wherein the charge-back regarding a previous transaction involves theaccount.
 3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein thecommunication device is a transaction authorization device.
 4. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the communication deviceis a wireless device or a wireless telephone.
 5. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the report or themessage contains information regarding a number or a frequency ofcharge-backs which have occurred on the account or contains informationregarding a number or a frequency of stopping of payments ornon-payments due to insufficient funds, or the report or the messagecontains information regarding a reason for a charge-back action, astopping of payment action, or a non-payment due to insufficient fundsaction, or the report or the message contains information regarding anallegation or a dispute allegation made by the individual or an accountholder associated with the account, or the report or the messagecontains information regarding an allegation of a fraudulent or anunauthorized account activity made by the individual or an accountholder associated with the account, or the report or the messagecontains information regarding an allegation or a response made by amerchant, a vendor, or a provider, involved in a transaction dispute, orthe report or the message contains information regarding a probabilityor a statistic regarding whether the individual or the account holderassociated with the account can be a charge-back risk in the transactionor whether the individual or the account holder can be a stopping ofpayment risk or a non-payment due to insufficient funds risk.
 6. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: determiningwhether the transaction is authorized or not authorized; generating asecond report or a second message containing information regardingwhether the transaction is authorized or not authorized; andtransmitting the second report or the second message to thecommunication device.
 7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1,wherein the account is a credit account, a credit card account, a chargeaccount, or a charge card account.
 8. The computer-implemented method ofclaim 1, wherein the account is a debit account, a debit card account, achecking account, a bank account, or an electronic money account.
 9. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the transaction is atelephone transaction or a mail order transaction.
 10. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: processinginformation regarding a second transaction involving the account or asecond transaction involving a second account; generating a secondreport or a second message, wherein the second report or the secondmessage contains information regarding a stopping of a payment regardingor involving the account or regarding or involving the second account,or information regarding a non-payment due to insufficient fundsregarding or involving the account or regarding or involving the secondaccount; and transmitting the second report or the second message to thecommunication device or to a second communication device.
 11. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the informationregarding the transaction includes information regarding a time periodor a time limit relating to, or a time of, a shipment, a transfer, or adelivery, of a good, a product, or a service, pursuant to thetransaction, and further wherein the report or the message istransmitted to the communication device prior to the shipment, thetransfer, or the delivery, of the good, the product, or the service. 12.The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the report or themessage is transmitted to the communication device prior to a shipment,a transfer, or a delivery, of a good, a product, or a service, or thereport or the message is transmitted to the communication device priorto a processing, a completion, a consummation, or a cancellation, of thetransaction.
 13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein thereport or the message is transmitted to the communication devicepursuant to, in, or during, a transaction authorization process.
 14. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the transaction is anon-line transaction, and further wherein the information regarding thetransaction, or the report or the message, is transmitted via, on, orover, the Internet or the World Wide Web.
 15. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 1, wherein the transaction is a face-to-facetransaction.
 16. An apparatus, comprising: a processing device, whereinthe processing device processes information regarding a transactioninvolving an individual or involving an account, wherein the apparatusgenerates a report or a message in response to the processing of theinformation regarding the transaction, wherein the report or the messagecontains information regarding a charge-back regarding a previoustransaction involving the individual; and a transmitter, wherein thetransmitter transmits the report or the message to a communicationdevice associated with a merchant, a vendor, or a provider, of a good, aproduct, or a service.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein thecommunication device is a transaction authorization device.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 16, wherein the communication device is a wirelessdevice, a wireless telephone, or a personal digital assistant.
 19. Theapparatus of claim 16, wherein the account is a credit account, a creditcard account, a charge account, or a charge card account.
 20. Theapparatus of claim 16, wherein the account is a debit account, a debitcard account, a checking account, or an electronic money account. 21.The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus determines whether thetransaction is authorized or not authorized, and further wherein theapparatus generates a second report or a second message containinginformation regarding whether the transaction is authorized or notauthorized, and further wherein the apparatus transmits the secondreport or the second message to the communication device.
 22. Theapparatus of claim 16, wherein the report or the message is transmittedto the communication device prior to a shipment, a transfer, or adelivery, of a good, a product, or a service, or the report or themessage is transmitted to the communication device prior to aprocessing, a completion, a consummation, or a cancellation, of thetransaction, or the report or the message is transmitted to thecommunication device pursuant to, in, or during, a transactionauthorization process.
 23. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the reportor the message contains information regarding a number or a frequency ofcharge-backs which have occurred on the account or contains informationregarding a number or a frequency of stopping of payments ornon-payments due to insufficient funds, or the report or the messagecontains information regarding a reason for a charge-back action, astopping of payment action, or a non-payment due to insufficient fundsaction, or the report or the message contains information regarding anallegation or a dispute allegation made by the individual or an accountholder associated with the account, or the report or the messagecontains information regarding an allegation of a fraudulent or anunauthorized account activity made by the individual or an accountholder associated with the account, or the report or the messagecontains information regarding an allegation or a response made by amerchant, a vendor, or a provider, involved in a transaction dispute, orthe report or the message contains information regarding a probabilityor a statistic regarding whether the individual or the account holderassociated with the account can be a charge-back risk in the transactionor whether the individual or the account holder can be a stopping ofpayment risk or a non-payment due to insufficient funds risk.
 24. Theapparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus processes informationregarding a second transaction involving the account or a secondtransaction involving a second account, and further wherein theapparatus generates a second report or a second message, wherein thesecond report or the second message contains information regarding astopping of a payment regarding or involving the account or regarding orinvolving the second account, or information regarding a non-payment dueto insufficient funds regarding or involving the account or regarding orinvolving the second account, and further wherein the apparatustransmits the second report or the second message to the communicationdevice or to a second communication device.
 25. The apparatus of claim16, wherein the report or the message is transmitted to thecommunication device pursuant to, in, or during, a transactionauthorization process.
 26. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein theinformation regarding the transaction includes information regarding atime period or a time limit relating to, or a time of, a shipment, atransfer, or a delivery, of a good, a product, or a service, pursuant tothe transaction, and further wherein the report or the message istransmitted to the communication device prior to the shipment, thetransfer, or the delivery, of the good, the product, or the service. 27.The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the transaction is an on-linetransaction, and further wherein the information regarding thetransaction, or the report or the message, is transmitted via, on, orover, the Internet or the World Wide Web.
 28. The apparatus of claim 16,wherein the transaction is a face-to-face transaction.
 29. The apparatusof claim 16, wherein the transaction is a telephone transaction or amail order transaction.
 30. The apparatus of claim 16, furthercomprising: a receiver, wherein the receiver receives the informationregarding the transaction, wherein the information regarding thetransaction is received by the receiver prior to a processing, acompletion, a consummation, or a cancellation, of the transaction.
 31. Acomputer-implemented method, comprising: processing, with a processingdevice or with a computer, information regarding a transaction involvingan account; generating, with the processing device or with the computer,a report or a message in response to the processing of the informationregarding the transaction, wherein the report or the message containsinformation regarding a charge-back regarding a previous transactioninvolving the account; and transmitting, with or from a transmitter, theprocessing device, or the computer, the report or the message to acommunication device associated with a merchant, a vendor, or aprovider, of a good, a product, or a service.
 32. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 31, wherein the report or themessage is transmitted to the communication device prior to a shipment,a transfer, or a delivery, of a good, a product, or a service, or thereport or the message is transmitted to the communication device priorto a processing, a completion, a consummation, or a cancellation, of thetransaction.
 33. The computer-implemented method of claim 31, whereinthe report or the message is transmitted to the communication devicepursuant to, in, or during, a transaction authorization process.
 34. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 31, wherein the report or themessage contains information regarding a number or a frequency ofcharge-backs which have occurred on the account or contains informationregarding a number or a frequency of stopping of payments ornon-payments due to insufficient funds, or the report or the messagecontains information regarding a reason for a charge-back action, astopping of payment action, or a non-payment due to insufficient fundsaction, or the report or the message contains information regarding anallegation or a dispute allegation made by the individual or an accountholder associated with the account, or the report or the messagecontains information regarding an allegation of a fraudulent or anunauthorized account activity made by the individual or an accountholder associated with the account, or the report or the messagecontains information regarding an allegation or a response made by amerchant, a vendor, or a provider, involved in a transaction dispute, orthe report or the message contains information regarding a probabilityor a statistic regarding whether the individual or the account holderassociated with the account can be a charge-back risk in the transactionor whether the individual or the account holder can be a stopping ofpayment risk or a non-payment due to insufficient funds risk.
 35. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 31, further comprising: processinginformation regarding a second transaction involving the account or asecond transaction involving a second account; generating a secondreport or a second message, wherein the second report or the secondmessage contains information regarding a stopping of a payment regardingor involving the account or regarding or involving the second account,or information regarding a non-payment due to insufficient fundsregarding or involving the account or regarding or involving the secondaccount; and transmitting the second report or the second message to thecommunication device or to a second communication device.
 36. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 31, wherein the communicationdevice is a transaction authorization device.
 37. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 31, wherein the communicationdevice is a wireless device, a wireless telephone, or a personal digitalassistant.
 38. The computer-implemented method of claim 31, furthercomprising: determining whether the transaction is authorized or notauthorized; generating a second report or a second message containinginformation regarding whether the transaction is authorized or notauthorized; and transmitting the second report or the second message tothe communication device.
 39. The computer-implemented method of claim31, wherein the account is a credit account, a credit card account, acharge account, or a charge card account.
 40. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 31, wherein the account is a debit account, a debit cardaccount, a checking account, or an electronic money account.
 41. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 31, wherein the informationregarding the transaction includes information regarding a time periodor a time limit relating to, or a time of, a shipment, a transfer, or adelivery, of a good, a product, or a service, pursuant to thetransaction, and further wherein the report or the message istransmitted to the communication device prior to the shipment, thetransfer, or the delivery of the good, the product, or the service 42.The computer-implemented method of claim 31, further comprising:receiving, with a receiver, the information regarding a transactioninvolving an account, wherein the information regarding the transactionis received by the receiver prior to a processing, a completion, aconsummation, or a cancellation, of the transaction.
 43. An apparatus,comprising: a processing device, wherein the processing device processesinformation regarding a transaction involving an individual or anaccount, wherein the apparatus generates a report or a message inresponse to the processing of the information regarding the transaction,wherein the report or the message contains information regarding aprevious transaction involving the individual or involving the account;and a transmitter, wherein the transmitter transmits the report or themessage to a communication device associated with a merchant, a vendor,or a provider, of a good, a product, or a service.
 44. The apparatus ofclaim 43, further comprising: a receiver, wherein the receiver receivesthe information regarding a transaction involving an individual or anaccount.
 45. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the communication deviceis a transaction authorization device.
 46. The apparatus of claim 43,wherein the communication device is a wireless device or a wirelesstelephone.
 47. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the apparatusdetermines whether the transaction is authorized or not authorized, andfurther wherein the apparatus generates a second report or a secondmessage containing information regarding whether the transaction isauthorized or not authorized, and further wherein the apparatustransmits the second report or the second message to the communicationdevice.
 48. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the apparatus processesinformation regarding a second transaction involving the account or asecond transaction involving a second account, and further wherein theapparatus generates a second report or a second message, wherein thesecond report or the second message contains information regarding acharge-back regarding or involving the account or regarding or involvingthe second account, a stopping of a payment regarding or involving theaccount or regarding or involving the second account, or informationregarding a non-payment due to insufficient funds regarding or involvingthe account or regarding or involving the second account, and furtherwherein the apparatus transmits the second report or the second messageto the communication device or to a second communication device.
 49. Theapparatus of claim 43, wherein the apparatus transmits the report or themessage to the communication device pursuant to, in, or during, atransaction authorization process.
 50. The apparatus of claim 43,wherein the information regarding the transaction includes informationregarding a time period or a time limit relating to, or a time of, ashipment, a transfer, or a delivery, of a good, a product, or a service,pursuant to the transaction, and further wherein the apparatus transmitsthe report or the message to the communication device prior to theshipment, the transfer, or the delivery, of the good, the product, orthe service.
 51. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the apparatustransmits the report or the message to the communication device prior toa shipment, a transfer, or a delivery, of a good, a product, or aservice, or the apparatus transmits the report or the message to thecommunication device prior to a processing, a completion, aconsummation, or a cancellation, of the transaction.
 52. The apparatusof claim 43, wherein the report or the message contains informationregarding a number or a frequency of charge-backs which have occurred onthe account or contains information regarding a number or a frequency ofstopping of payments or non-payments due to insufficient funds, or thereport or the message contains information regarding a reason for acharge-back action, a stopping of payment action, or a non-payment dueto insufficient funds action, or the report or the message containsinformation regarding an allegation or a dispute allegation made by theindividual or an account holder associated with the account, or thereport or the message contains information regarding an allegation of afraudulent or an unauthorized account activity made by the individual oran account holder associated with the account, or the report or themessage contains information regarding an allegation or a response madeby a merchant, a vendor, or a provider, involved in a transactiondispute, or the report or the message contains information regarding aprobability or a statistic regarding whether the individual or theaccount holder associated with the account can be a charge-back risk inthe transaction or whether the individual or the account holder can be astopping of payment risk or a non-payment due to insufficient fundsrisk.